Minnesota Grantmakers Respond: The Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

Source: Minnesota Council on Foundations 03/31/2011

When disaster strikes, philanthropy plays a crucial role. Grantmakers give generously to meet immediate emergency needs, and they contribute thoughtfully toward long-range relief efforts.

Minnesota philanthropists -- organizations and individual donors -- have a strong tradition of supporting those in need in the wake of natural and manmade disasters.

On this page you'll find a list of donations and in-kind contributions made to organizations working to support the survivors of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Minnesota Grantmaker Responses

3M Pledges $2.5 Million to Earthquake Relief
3M has pledged $2.5 million to support relief efforts in Japan following the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami.Support includes a $500,000 employee and retiree matching grant and up to $2 million in product donations as needs are identified.Grants will be made to the American Red Cross and U.S. Fund for UNICEF. Product donations will likely include respiratory protection products, medical and cleaning supplies. Read the full news release.

Allianz Life Insurance Company Matches Staff Donations Up to $25,000
Allianz Life Insurance Company will match employee donations to the American Red Cross up to $25,000. Allianz's global parent company will be matching contributions as well, up to $375,000. Read the complete Allianz news release (PDF)

Best Buy Makes $500,000 Donation to Aid Japan Relief Efforts
On behalf of its 180,000 employees worldwide, and in recognition of valued business partners in the country of Japan,  Best Buy Co., Inc. has made a $500,000 donation to support the immediate response efforts to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last week. The contribution was made to the American Red Cross to help advance their short-term relief and long-term rebuilding infrastructure in Japan. Read the full news release at bby.com.

Boston Scientific Pledges $150,000 to Red Cross, To Match Employee Donations Up to $250,000
Boston Scientific will be making a $150,000 corporate donation to the Red Cross to aid disaster relief activities. In addition, beginning March 17 and continuing through April 29, Boston Scientific will match, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, all individual employee donations to the American/International Red Cross for Japan earthquake and Pacific tsunami relief efforts, up to $250,000.

Cargill Matching Global Employee Donations, Seeking to Identify Longer-term Needs with Japanese Partners
Cargill made a donation of $250,000 to Second Harvest Japan. Through March 31, Cargill is matching global employee donations made to Red Cross. Cargill business units have donated $125,000 to disaster-relief efforts.  The company and its businesses in Japan will seek longer-term recovery projects in impacted communities to support with funds, expertise and volunteer efforts.

Comcast Providing Free Calls to Japan for Xfinity Voice and Business Class Voice Customers
To help unite families and friends in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Comcast has announced it is providing free calls to Japan for its Xfinity Voice and Business Class Voice customers. For calls made to Japan by customers during the timeframe from March 11 through April 10, 2011, Comcast will remove these charges from customers’ bills. Credits and waived fees will be automatic, as no action is required by customers. Download the Comcast News Release (PDF)

Deluxe Corporation Foundation Donates $25,000 Grant to American Red Cross, Matches Up to $25,000 in Employee Giving
The Deluxe Corporation Foundation has made a $25,000 grant to the American Red Cross to help victims of the Japan earthquake and Pacific tsunami. The Foundation will also match up to $25,000 in employee donations.

General Mills Contributes $650,000 to Red Cross, Matches Up to $100,000 More
In response to recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, General Mills, an MCF member, will contribute $650,000 to the Red Cross to support immediate disaster relief efforts.  The General Mills Foundation will also provide a dollar-for-dollar match of employee and retiree contributions to the Red Cross, up to $100,000.

Hormel Pledging Up to $100,000 in Employee-Match Money, To Send Spam Products to Relief Organizations
Hormel Foods Corp. said today that it is pledging more than $100,000 toward an employee-match donation for the American Red Cross and a donation of Spam products to earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan. Read the complete Hormel news release.

Medtronic Pledges $1 Million to Relief Efforts in Japan
Medtronic, Inc., an MCF member, announced on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 that it is pledging a total of $1 million (U.S.) in direct grants, employee matching grants and product donations to support near- and long-term relief efforts in Japan following the March 11 earthquake and resulting tsunami. Download Medtronic News Release (PDF)

Mosaic Company Contributes $1 Million for Relief Efforts, Pledges Ongiong Support to Japanese Farmers
The Mosaic Company will make a $1 million donation to the Red Cross to support relief efforts in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Mosaic will also be giving its Japanese customers priority on future shipments of phosphate and potash to replace those damaged by the tsunami and to ensure Japan’s food security is not threatened. In addition to the $1 million contribution, Mosaic employee donations to relief efforts in Japan will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Company up to $100,000. Download the complete Mosaic news release (PDF)

Pentair Donates to Send Water Treatment Systems to Survivors
Following the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, Pentair, Inc., a leading global water solutions provider, in coordination with its Foundation, is immediately donating $200,000 to fund portable water treatment systems and related supplies to the devastated area of Japan in addition to supporting local organizations where the need will be most impactful. Pentair’s donation will support the company’s charitable partner, Water Missions International (WMI), who is sending 14 Living Water Treatment Systems (LWTS) to the ravaged area. The systems are capable of producing 200,000 gallons of potable water a day, serving the drinking water needs of approximately 65,000 people. Download the Pentair News Release (PDF)

RBC Donates $100,000 to Red Cross to Benefit Japan Relief
RBC Wealth Management, an MCF member, has responded to the disaster in Japan by contributing $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to support relief and humanitarian efforts. RBC Wealth Management employees who wish to support the humanitarian and relief efforts with personal contributions to organizations providing aid may use the Employee Gift Matching Program and their donations will be matched through the RBC Foundation – USA.

SUPERVALU Foundation Matches Employee Gifts to the American Red Cross
The SUPERVALU Foundation, an MCF member, is matching employee contributions to the Red Cross through April 1st.

Target Donates $500,000 to Save the Children for Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Relief
Target announced today it has donated $500,000 to assist with Japan’s earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. The donation was made to Save the Children, which has already mobilized an immediate and direct response to the crisis. In addition to providing food and medical care, Save the Children also remains after a disaster to help communities rebuild through long-term recovery program. Read the complete news release at target.com.

Thomson Reuters Raises Matching Amount for Employee Donations to Japan to $2,000 per Individual, Total Limit of $1 Million
Thomson Reuters increased the employee match amount from $1,000 to $2,000 with the intent that the additional $1000 be available to support relief efforts in Japan. The program to donate the additional funds will be open until April 15th and/or when pledge amounts equal one million, whichever comes first. Thomson Reuters is also assisting poison controls centers and the CDC in monitoring radition. Read more at thomsonreuters.com.

The Toro Company Matching Employee Gifts to American Red Cross
The Toro Comany, an MCF member, has announced today that they will match all employee donations to the American Red Cross until April 1st.

The Travelers Companies, Inc. Pledges $50,000 for Relief, Matches Employee Donations Up to $50,000
In response to devastation caused by the earthquake in Japan, The Travelers Companies, Inc. is immediately sending $50,000 to assist relief efforts. The company also has created a special disaster relief matching program so that employees may contribute between $25 and $1000 dollars to specified organizations and have their contributions matched. The foundation will match employee contributions up to $50,000, for total potential support of $100,000. Go to investor.travelers.com to view the complete news release.

Twins in The Community Posts Video Encouraging Fans to Donate, Make $25,000 Contribution to Feed My Starving Children
Tsuyoshi Nishioka and Michael Cuddyer starred in a video produced by Twins in The Community encouraging fans to donate to the Red Cross to support survivors of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan. Watch the video at the Twins in The Community website.

U.S. Bancorp Foundation Donating $100,000 to Disaster Relief, Matching Employee Gifts to American Red Cross Up to $100,000
The U.S. Bancorp Foundation is donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross to assist with disaster relief efforts in Japan. In addition, through April 30, the U.S. Bancorp Foundation will match all individual employee donations to the American Red Cross for Japan relief efforts, up to $100,000. The minimum one-year employment requirement and $50 minimum contribution have been waived for this matching effort. Read the complete news release at usbank.com.

Wells Fargo and Team Members to Contribute up to $1.5 Million to Aid Disaster Relief and Recovery Efforts in Japan
Wells Fargo and team members will contribute as much as $1.5 million to victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The company will immediately contribute $500,000 to the American Red Cross to support the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund. In addition, Wells Fargo will match contributions from team members dollar-for-dollar, up to $500,000, for a combined potential total of $1.5 million.

Additionally, Wells Fargo will be activating all 9,000 Wells Fargo-branded ATMs so they'll be able to accept customer donations to the American Red Cross (up to $249.99 per transaction).

More Resources:

• Learn more about how philanthropists can prepare to respond to future disasters effectively on the Disaster Giving page.
• Find resources and recommendations about how others are responding to the disaster in Japan to help inform your own choice, as a grantmaker or an individual.
• Curious about the response of grantmakers nationally? Foundation Center is compiling information from grantmakers and organizations like MCF on Japan Relief Grants list.